Homebirth and lactation supplies

[Climbergirl]

Ok, so I am planning a homebirth in December. I am trying to create lists of things I need beforehand. Yes, I know, I am a planner Pregnancy nesting-ish hormones with a type A organizing personality will do this!

I remember needing lots of things from the hospital, but they had a breastfeeding services center and I was able to get all sorts of things. This time, I am planning on being at home, so I won't have the nice LC that could go get stuff for me or take DH to buy stuff for me.

So, I am trying to create a list of things that I may need that I should go ahead and have on hand that would be very helpful if I need them and especially since this bean is due around Christmas and things may be closed for the holidays.

The only things I have on that list is:

1. breast pads (cloth and sposie)
2. gel pads
3. lanolin (does that stuff expire because I have TONS of it)

At home, I have a breast pump (which I should have looked at to make sure it is still in good shape after my move) with 3 complete sets of flanges and what not (and some new tubing). Maybe I should get some bags and what not? I am not planning on working this time, but I seem to make a lot so I could easily have a huge stash.

For some reason, it feels like there should be more. Not sure why. So, am I missing something?

[jenfl]

Originally Posted by Climbergirl

For some reason, it feels like there should be more. Not sure why. So, am I missing something?

I think the great thing about breastfeeding is the LACK of supplies!

All I'd have on the list are breastpads and lanolin. Anything else you MIGHT need later, and will be able to go out and get or send someone for.

[Climbergirl]

Originally Posted by jenfl

I think the great thing about breastfeeding is the LACK of supplies!

All I'd have on the list are breastpads and lanolin. Anything else you MIGHT need later, and will be able to go out and get or send someone for.

Very true . I guess since I am due between Christmas and new years in a place where we had 3 blizzards with feet of snow (which shut everything down) I am just being a little more paranoid. If we had this baby at this time last year, we would not have been able to go get stuff because everything was closed and some places were not plowed! Maybe I should locate a LC that is close enough to me that she could help.
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[*MamaJen*]

Do you have a boppy? I think some kind of breastfeeding pillow is quite helpful.
Lanolin has a pretty long shelf life, but it does have an expiration date stamped on the end of the tube.

[Climbergirl]

Yep! I have a boppy. Although I have heard lots of good things about the "my Breast Friend" and almost feel that I should try one out.....

[Turquesa]

Do you need a pump? Mine came in handy because both of my newborns slept A LOT, so I would use the pump to relieve the engorgement.

[ewe+lamb]

Originally Posted by jenfl

I think the great thing about breastfeeding is the LACK of supplies!

How true!!!

[Pinoikoi]

I bought these tray things for freezing breastmilk.. Basically it is like an ice cube tray, only they are tubes instead of cubes and each tube is 2 oz of milk.. pop the tubes out and store them in REGULAR freezer bags (quart or gallon size).. I think this will cut my expenses down considerably for freezing milk since I won't be using those individual bm storage bags.

I haven't started pumping yet though, so I can't tell you the pros and cons yet, but the ones I found were foodsafe , etc.. sensible lines I think?

Oh, and get some extra covers for the boppy.. easier to wash a cover than the whole pillow.

[crystal_buffaloe]

I thought hydrogel pads were a lifesaver -- and maybe ingredients to mix up some all-purpose nipple ointment? I also used a syringe when baby had a latch problem and got kind of frantic at the breast, just to calm her down long enough to get on.

[Climbergirl]

That is probably a good idea for the syringe. I should find out what kind to get. And I had some of those hydrogel pads last time. I wonder how many I need to get?

Pinoikoi, that is what I do with my chicken broth! I should have thought of that I still have jars from when I was donating breastmilk. They are little 3 oz jars. I probably have some bags running around.

I do have a pump. But it has been through over a year of serious use (and a cross country move, which I am sure was not "gentle"), so I need to find a place to have it looked at to make sure it is still up to par. I should call Medela to find out what to do.

I should ask my naturopath friend about the nipple stuff. She makes her own salves and what not and said she would show me. I should get her to show me that and butt stuff (or anything else I would need), that is a good idea!

I have 2 covers for the Boppy. Maybe I will get one more now that I have a toddler and he may drag it all over the place and I may become weirdly germ crazy.

Ok, starting to feel better.